| Martin 2005-11-02, 5:21 pm |
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"a425couple" <a425couple@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:uPmdnXWRarrqQ_XeRVn-pQ@comcast.com...
> "Martin" <martin.reboul@spamfuktiscali.co.uk> wrote
> I
> 'useful'
> lucky
> who did
> long,
> and rats
> take
>
> Yeahhhh, I kinda walked into that 'popular' comment ehh!
> Okay, as I understand it, there is still scientific debate
> about what disease actually caused the "Black Death"
> (some think it was not bubonic plague but another that
> passed just fine directly human to human).
Y pestis seems to be the culprit - on that I am not an expert, but it seems that
amongst those who are, that is current thinking. The method of its transport and
spread is the intriguing thing, which is still debated. One of the inexplicable
things was the way it travelled from place to place (particularly on sea
voyages) well outside the incubation period. It seems that dormant fleas, with
the bacillus in their gut, were responsible, probably snoozing in cosy bundles
of textiles in the hold. That's why the crew didn't all perish on the way. Once
unloaded and sold, the fleas would come to life and start to feed, passing it on
through the animal chain.
One of the first signs of an approaching epidemic was said to be dead rats all
over the place, which led to the conclusion that they were responsible somehow.
They probably weren't, it just kills them quicker. Many who died were probably
infected directly by fleas after buying new carpets and clothes. Once in the
higher mammals, it could spread pneumonically as well as by flea bites, as the
bacteria infect the lungs in massive quantity. Direct inhalation from lung to
lung would cause much quicker death than inoculation into the bloodstream, which
must have caused much of the mystery and confusion.
Basically, it wasn't the rats fault, it was fleas!
> Whatever, I think most of us agree that rats and mice
> are not 'good things' to have around humans.
> Why was there not greater effort in medieval times
> (or earlier, or later) to decrease rat population?
> (via cats, dogs, removing garbage etc.?)
There were strenuous efforts to keep down vermin and pests, dozens of
professional rat catchers in towns and villages, and stringent rules about the
dumping and clearance of rubbish - alas, often ignored or enforced. They knew it
was bad, but not eactly why. Rat catchers also provided victims for sport of
course, and could make quite a good (if somewhat unsavoury) living.
> A lot of 'human wisdom' was passed on well from
> culture to culture, generation to generation.
> Ancient Egyptians liked cats to control the rats
> from eating their stored food.
> Why didn't each sailing ship have a couple
> mouser cats (or some early version of rat-terrier)
> onboard?
They did for sure - the ship's cat is legendary, and has been always AFAIK,
since long voyages began. However, as I said, even with no rats, the plague
could still spread. It could also lie dormant in bedding, straw and flooring
etc, for perhaps a year... then return.
Cheers
Martin
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